Wrench



June 24, 1941.y w, R, sMm-a WRENCH INVENTOR BY @n eww/fa.

ATTQRNEYS Patented June 24, 1941 S la@ 1 Claim.

The invention relates to a Wrench and more especially to a pipe Wrench of the Stillson type.

The primary object of the invention is the provision of a wrench of this character, wherein on relative adjustment of the jaws thereof, these can be positively locked against displacement and in this way assure a firm grip and holding of a piece of Work.

Another object of the invention is the provision of a wrench of this character, wherein the movable jaw can be readily and quickly adjusted and adjustment may be had minutely, the movable and fixed jaws of the wrench being flexibly related to each other so as to assure the gripping of a piece of work.

A further object of the invention is the provin sion of a wrench of this character, wherein the locking of the movable jaw is had in a novel manner so that there is no liability of the loosening of the grip upon the work by the wrench in the use of the same.

A still further object of the invention is the provision of a wrench of this character, wherein adjustment is had from either side of the wrench and on adjustment both jaws of the wrench are normally held in parallel relation to each other, that is to say, the working faces thereof so that one jaw will not tip relative to the other jaw during adjustment, thereby enabling accurate adjustment to be had.

A still further object of the invention is the provision of a wrench of this character, which is simple in construction, thoroughly reliable and emcient in operation, convenient and easy of adjustment, strong, durable, and inexpensive to manufacture.

With these and other objects in View, the invention consists in the features of construction, combination and arrangement of parts as will be hereinafter more fully described in detail, illustrated in the accompanying drawing, which discloses the preferred embodiment of the invention and pointed out in the claim hereunto appended.

In the accompanying drawing:

Figure 1 is a fragmentary side elevation of a wrench constructed in accordance with the invention.

Figure 2 is a vertical transverse sectional view taken on the line 2-2 of Figure 1 looking in the direction of the arrows.

Figure 3 is a fragmentary vertical longitudinal sectional View through the wrench.

Similar reference characters indicate corresponding parts throughout the several views in the drawing.

Referring to the drawing in detail, A designates generally a portion of the wrench constructed in accordance with the invention and includes the Work-engaging jaws Ill and II, respectively, these having serrated work-contacting faces I2. The jaw Ii) is at the inner end of a leverage handle I3 while the jaw II is formed with a feed rack or stem III at its outermost edge having ratchet teeth I5 While fitting the jaw Il] is a turnable eccentric I6 integral with a turning arbor I'I journaled in the side cheeks It fastened to a ratchet latch or ratchet toothed latching runner I9 coacting with the teeth of the rack I5 so that the jaw I I can be latched in an adjusted relation to the jaw It. The feed rack or stem I4 is slidably tted between the cheeks I8 and the dog or runner I9 is fastened at 2li to these cheeks being counterseated at 2I in both cheeks.

The jaw Iii is formed with a fulcrum 22 making contact with the rack or stem Iii. The jaw Il) also is formed with a shoulder 23 having fastened at 2l thereto a leaf spring 25 which has fastening to a guide collar or bail 26 slidably tting the rack or stem I4. This spring 25 sustains normally the faces I2 of the jaws lil and II in parallelism under adjustment of the said jaws relative to each other. The eccentric I6 functions on the turning thereof to bring the dog or runner I9 into and out of latching engagement with the teeth I5 of the rack or stem I4.

Mounted upon the dog or runner I9 is a spring glider 2l which rides the teeth I5 and functions to urge the said dog or runner I9 out of meshing engagement with the teeth I5 and also the fulcrum 22 in Contact with the rack or stem I4. The

spring 25 assures flexibility to the jaws I0 and II for the firm and positive gripping of a piece of work by the faces I2 of said jaws.

The arbor Il at opposite ends thereof has xed peripherally knurled turning knobs 28 and one of the latter has provided peripherally therein a segmental recess or notch 29 accommodating a stopping pin 3U fixed at 3l to the jaw I0. The coaction between the notch 29 and the pin 39 limits the turning movement of the eccentric either clockwise or counter-clockwise and brings the dog or runner I9 into latched engagement with the teeth I5 or out of latched engagement therewith on the rack or stem I4. The glider 2l is fixed by fasteners 32 to the dog or runner I3.

By reason of the construction of the wrench hereinbefore set forth flexibility is had between the jaws I and II and quick and easy adjustment of one jaw relative to the other can be had While accuracy in close adjustment will be assured. The adjustment of the Wrench can be had from either or both sides thereof. On the flexing of one jaw relative to the other of the Wrench the iulcrurn 22 plays upon the rack or stern i4 so a positive and rrn grip by the faces I2 of the jaws IE] and Il may be accomplished in the use of the Wrench.

What is claimed is:

A Wrench of the character described, comprising a handle having an enlarged outer end forming a jaw, a yoke straddling the enlarged end of the handle and having teeth on the inner looped end thereof, an eccentric connection between the yoke and the handle, means for operating said eccentric, a movable jaw passing through said yoke and having teeth on its outer edge engaging the teeth in the yoke and provided With a lateral end forming a jaw parallel with the enlarged outer end of the handle, a fulcrum point carried by the enlarged end of the handle and engaging the inner edge of the movable jaw, a spring carried by the yoke for causing the fulcrurn point of the handle to engage the edge of the jaw, a sleeve slidable on the inner end of the movable jaw, and a leaf spring connecting said sleeve and the enlarged end of the handle.

WESTON R. SMITH. 

